Nursery, garden centre, DIY store or internet? Nick Bailey shops around to see which is best for buying plants

Reproduced from the April 07 issue of Gardeners' World magazine. August 07 issue on sale now. Subscribe now by direct debit and save 25 per cent.

We've all got our favourite places to go plant shopping. Some of us browse glossy brochures, while others prefer poking around nurseries or making a swift trip to the DIY store. But where do you go to get the best value and the best quality rolled into one?

To find out, we put to the test the five main methods of plant shopping. We bought the same five plants from a garden centre, a nursery, the internet, a DIY store and a market to see how they compared. We paid full rice, and no one knew who we were or that the plants they sold us were being tested.

We looked at the plants' condition at purchase and again four months on. We assessed their rate of establishment and how well they bloomed. The shopping experience itself was another major consideration, and most important in a test for best value was the overall cost. Taking all these factors together, we gave each set an overall score out of 10.

Planting took place under identical conditions in June, and we chose late summer-flowering varieties to give them time to bulk up and bloom. By September, we had some surprising results?

Our test plants

• Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Worcester Gold'
• Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Kobold'
• Geum 'Mrs J Bradshaw'
• Lavatera x clementii 'Barnsley'
• Rosa 'Grandpa Dickson'

Test conditions
Each plot was prepared with 60 litres of compost before planting and each received 18 litres of water per week during the summer of 2006. An initial feed of fish, blood and bone was applied after planting and a dose of Miracle-Gro was given every month from June until September. Pesticides were used only if plants came under attack: we didn't use preventative chemicals.

Buying from a nursery

Prices
Caryopteris: £5.95, 2-litre pot
Gaillardia: £1.95, 1-litre pot
Geum: £3.50, 1-litre pot
Lavatera: £4.95, 3-litre pot
Rose: £5.50, 3-litre pot
Total: £21.85

Specialist nurseries often stock more unusual plants. Coupled with the expert advice they offer, this makes them perfect for passionate gardeners. They're also good value, with perennials starting from as little as £1.95. But small companies can't always afford to dump old stock, which means you may find aged plants on sale.

At purchase
The plants were in good health, but some (chiefly the caryopteris) had been in stock for so long that they were root bound, and the gaillardia was crammed in a tiny pot. We visited three nurseries, but our specific list meant we didn't get the best plants.

Early days
All the plants, especially the root-bound perennials, were slow starters. The lavatera had filled out by August but couldn't keep up with its rivals. After an initial flurry, the rose succumbed to rust but recovered for a second flush.

The story four months on
The caryopteris didn't improve, but it did manage a good display of flowers. The gaillardia produced just three blooms, but the rose was the best performer with a second show in late summer.

We say: Nurseries carry a great range of stock at reasonable prices, but the ones we tested were the worst overall performers. Avoid poor-quality plants by being flexible and selecting those that are fresh and young, and use the staff's specialist knowledge to help you choose wisely. Total score 4/10

Buying over the internet

Prices
Caryopteris: £4.95, 2.5-litre pot
Gaillardia: £4.95, 2-litre pot
Geum: £5.95, 2-litre pot
Lavatera: £6.45, 3-litre pot
Rose: £6.99, 3-litre pot
Postage & packing: £18.45
Total: £47.74

Although the internet gives you delivery to your door, it does have its disadvantages. Prices were similar to those of garden centres, but delivery charges made the total price three times that of competitors. And because no single website sold all five of our required plants, we had to buy from two sources, pushing delivery charges higher still.

On delivery
Our plants compared well in size to their garden-centre rivals and were in great condition. Their roots were a bit dry but water-laden pots would push postage higher still. There were no signs of pests or disease.

Early days
The geum was in full bloom by July, while the gaillardia fought for space with the fast-maturing lavatera. The rose suffered from a minor rust problem but flowered well in July and August.

The story four months on
The lavatera and rose did so well that they overshadowed the once-floriferous gaillardia. The geum bloomed all summer and the caryopteris fought off a capsid bug attack to bloom brilliantly in September.

We say: These plants performed superbly. All five established themselves brilliantly and out-bloomed the other four sets. But the delivery charge pushed the total cost up by almost 40 per cent, which, to our minds, does not represent good value for money. Total score 5/10

Buying from a garden centre

Prices
Caryopteris: £3.50, 2-litre pot
Gaillardia: £5.99, 2-litre pot
Geum: £4.99, 1.5-litre pot
Lavatera: £4.50, 2-litre pot
Rose: £6.50, 3-litre pot
Total: £25.48

Local garden centres update their stock frequently, letting you hand pick the healthiest plants. They carry large quantities of each variety, making mass planting possible, but prices are higher than those at nurseries and markets due to their overheads. This was the case here, with the perennials costing £1-£2 more than the nurseryand market-bought plants.

At purchase
The herbaceous plants were well planted in large pots. They had good roots and top growth, although the shrubs looked tired. The rose had strong roots, but top growth was minimal. There were no signs of pests or disease.

Early days
The gaillardia romped away and flowered well, but the geum was slow and the caryopteris came under attack from capsid bug. There is no treatment for this and we applied a general insecticide without success.

The story four months on
Despite our rose's strong roots, it produced only three substantial stems. The gaillardia bloomed well, but was out-performed by its market-bought equivalent. Both shrubs filled out well.

We say
The rose's growth was poor, as was that of the damaged caryopteris, which is unfortunately particularly prone to capsid attack. Our other plants, especially the perennials, performed well - perhaps due to their roomy pots. These plants offered good value for money. Total score 7/10

Buying from a DIY store

Prices
Caryopteris: £6.99, 2-litre pot
Gaillardia: £5.39, 2-litre pot
Geum: £5.39, 2-litre pot
Lavatera: £6.69, 4-litre pot
Rose: £5.99, 3-litre pot
Total: £30.45

Buy your plants the day they arrive at the DIY store and you'll get good value and high quality. But after a few weeks on display, stock degenerates due to poor maintenance. Choice is limited and growing advice non-existent. Prices were generally high, and the lavatera and caryopteris were particularly expensive.

At purchase
All plants were free of pests and disease, but the rose had weak roots. The lavatera came in a bigger pot than its rivals and had good stem structure. The two perennials also came in large containers, with well-formed buds on both plants. The letdown was the old, woody caryopteris.

Early days
By July, all but the caryopteris, which came under capsid attack, had established well. The rose was on to its second flush of flowers, while the perennials were pumping out blooms.

The story four months on
The lavatera grew and flowered better than its rivals, and needed staking to stop it smothering the other plants. The gaillardia also bulked out, flowering well into October. The caryopteris produced very little new growth.

we say
Despite a limited range and a lack of planting advice, the DIY store plants performed well. Some plants seemed surprisingly expensive, but they did come in larger pots than their rivals. Overall, the plants were large and healthy with abundant blooms.

Total score 8/10

Tried & Tested choice

Prices
Caryopteris: £4, 2-litre pot
Gaillardia: £2.90, 2-litre pot
Geum: £2.50, 2-litre pot
Lavatera: £3, 3-litre pot
Rose: £3, 3-litre pot
Total: £15.40

Market plants tend to be cheap, and while some are bought in bulk from the Netherlands, many come from specialists or are grown by stall holders. The fast stock turnover means healthier plants, but choice and advice are limited. On the stall we bought from, prices were lower than at other sources. The lavatera cost just £3, and the rose was half the price of its competitors.

At purchase
All plants were healthy, with good roots and top growth. The rose was best of all, with thick stems and lush foliage. There were no signs of pests or disease.

Early days
The caryopteris was infested with capsid bugs, but all the other plants flourished.

The story four months on
The geum flowered and grew well throughout the summer. Most impressive was the rose, which produced three flushes of flowers. The gaillardia bloomed non- stop until October. Even the ravaged caryopteris managed a smattering of blooms.

we say
The lack of choice means this is not the way to furnish a complete garden. But for impulse buys and seasonal plants, market stalls offer great value. Overall, our market plants performed extremely well, being outdone only by the internet-bought plants.

Total score 9/10

Results In brief

Buying from a nursery
Although nurseries produce a great selection of plants at very reasonable prices, our test plants fared the worst of the five. 4/10

Buying over the internet
These plants did well, with strong growth and lots of blooms. But the delivery charges pushed the cost up by almost 40 per cent. 5/10

Buying from a garden centre
Our test plants did well and the wide range means you can hand pick the best stock. You also get decent value for money. 7/10

Buying from a DIY store
Our big, healthy plants came in large pots, but prices were on the high side. 8/10

Buying from a market
The choice isn't great and advice is limited. But prices are low and our test plants developed superbly. 9/10

To market, to market...

All five sets had their strengths and weaknesses but, by summer's end two groups had out-grown the rest. To our surprise, these were the internet and market plants. Both were great performers, but delivery costs made the internet plants much more expensive. And although our internet-bought plants were in good condition, quality is not guaranteed because you don't see what you buy.

So, for the best overall value, growth and health, the market plants are our winners. Admittedly, you won't find the best range here, but what you do find will be fresh and healthy, having arrived from specialist growers in the past few days. And unlike the internet, markets also offer you the browse factor. When it comes to value for money and enjoyable shopping, markets are unbeatable.